Ruling as the Next Dragon Sage!-Chapter 84: Truth or Lie

There was a vocal silence, a long, heavy, drawn-out one. The air was filled with the trickling flames of the mansion that had erupted from Cloudjumper’s magic attack prior. All of us in what seemed like the most safe and perfect place to be at as of now. The Mansion’s Garden.

The grass ran on for what felt like miles, and if I suspected anything, that too would most likely end up in scorches if this doesn’t end quickly.

Sultan kneeled, his keen intuition allowing him to duck right in time before Vaniti dealt a crucial blow, although he didn’t come out unscathed. A slight tear into his cheek, a small cut—bleeding just slightly enough. Dripped down all the way to his chin.

"And that," Sultan whispered.

"Was the day Aurea lost its future. The...the Cruel Saint made sure of it."

He narrowed his eyes at Vaniti, but she herself was very visibly shaken. Sultan’s retelling of an awful massacre of their governmental figures holds up...but there are some parts of the story I just couldn’t believe, or just align myself with.

For one...I don’t think Vaniti speaks in the way that he described. She sounded more like a...regular teenager than she does now. Vaniti usually speaks like... an old maiden, if that made sense. Proper sense, everything. It’s...weird, I don’t know necessarily how to explain it.

But if this was a case sent against her, then this proves that this must’ve been some time. Before the earthquake that happened two years prior, because remember, Sultan had not become Chancellor at that time...

...but because if Vaniti supposedly assassinated the previous Chancellor, then that means that Sultan became one in his stead after a direct emergency. That qualifies as an emergency, no? Without the Chancellor...

...Aurea Islands would probably shut down, right?

My tail swept the grass, low, slowly, back and forth. Vaniti’s eyes came my direction, her hand slightly shaking. Then her vision back to Sultan. She clenched down on her teeth, not even she believes this...or wants to believe it.

And me neither. Because Sultan’s lying...isn’t he?

I...I can’t tell.

For once, I think I couldn’t trust my Consort—and to be fair, there haven’t been many times where my trust has been tested with her.

I look at Vaniti one more time, and for once, she looks lost, confused. Not sure what to do. Can’t look towards me for guidance because, well, I’m just as shocked as hearing as she is. She’s not clear what the best option was.

...but even Sultan, the way he described the events. That’s...that’s not something Vaniti could do, or would do. She hasn’t even massacred people, or put an attempt to, at least. It’s not something she would—

A chilling thought, or moreso a memory came back to my mind. The cave, the dungeon. When I had just got back from Ashlight Bastion.

The rows, and heaps, and piles of corpses. Many, many different species, all one...fate. Death.

I shake my head quickly, get it out as fast as I can. That memory had no place in my mind. That situation, and this situation are two different things, no? It’s not directly the same, nor would it ever be the same.

Make a move, Ryuuzen. There’s not enough time, the longer you stand there, and wait, and ponder, the longer one of them will do something before you.

"Sultan," I quickly outed from my lips, blurted out practically. Everyone’s attention went right towards me, yeah, focusing on the Sovereign finally.

Everyone’s eyes. Koga, Vaniti’s, and even Sultan’s. So much as to even pause their own current thoughts or actions, to see what I would do. I would too, to be fair. An almighty, all powerful Dragonoid stands before you, of course.

But the real question is...do I trust Vaniti or not?

It didn’t take long for me to make up my mind. To bite the bullet instead.

"...you’re lying, aren’t you, Sultan?" His face almost went pale, and at the same time, Vaniti managed to breath easier and far more comfortable. Her body stood straight up now, more relaxed, less tensed. Exactly what I needed.

I walked over to her, and stopped when reaching right by her side. Sultan looked above, from his kneeling position at the two of us. Shocked, and still, with a face of betrayal. Maybe...he was right, you know?

Maybe Vaniti did annihlate an entire governmental party, and the sole thought of it alone does make me feel sick. That I right now must be standing next to a potential crazed elf...

...but if there was one thing she made apparent to me, was that trust between us must run deep. It has to, and there’s no other way about it.

If I don’t trust Vaniti, then...no, I don’t even want to think about it. Because right now, I’m fully buying into it, regardless of how much my mind or any past experience wants to bother me about this.

I trust Vaniti, wholeheartedly, and will stand by her against anything that comes not only her way, but our way as well.

Looking down at Sultan, I sighed, a long, deep, and drawn out one. Smoke escaped the same breath that it withdrew from.

"Sultan...this won’t go on any longer. Any other attempt to resist, will only make it harder." I begin.

"I won’t let the authorities handle it, because you’ve probably have your finger wrapped around law enforcement too, don’t you? You are well aware that I’m the Sovereign of Strife and Ruin. So, tonight, the whole nation will know the existence of both of us," 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Your true self, the one who’s worked his way up on the backs of others unrighteously, and I, the Sovereign who has come out of hiding after so long."

My words land as final, as I intend for them to be. This is potentially the best outcome for him, and despite whatever future or fate he can see, I want to make it as clear as possible.

There’s no escape from this.

My tail raised, the silver tip shining. I was going to forcefully grab him, take him to a highly populated place and probably conduct a whole humiliation ritual...but something felt...off.

I sensed my own mana, but why was I sensing another—

Cloudjumper?

She’s...she’s conscious?

Figured she wouldn’t have moved a muscle until this whole ordeal was over? Damn...she’s built to last apparently.

I was able to piece it together, and I couldn’t tell right from the direction where she was coming from, all I felt and knew was of her presence that was similar to mine. Then, I felt it. Right in my horns. Sharp.

[Dragon’s Authority: Sovereign Sense] proc’d fast. A ringing in my head that I couldn’t help but raise my head slightly to the left, and then, I saw it.

Cloudjumper.

Coming in hot.